Are Potatoes Vegetables?

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Yes. Botanically speaking, a potato is definitely a vegetable. It comes from an annual plant that is grown for its edible root.

Vegetables are classified into five subgroups based on their nutritional content, according to the USDA: dark-green vegetables, beans and peas, starchy vegetables, red and orange vegetables, and other vegetables.

Potato Nutrition

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This may come as a shock to many people, but potatoes are actually quite good for you. To understand the role they play in a healthy diet, you must separate them from greasy French fries and buttery mashed potatoes. (Note: We’ve got absolutely nothing against French fries and mashed potatoes—but we don’t eat them for their health benefits. Moderation is key).

Yes, those delicious-yet-not-quite-nutritious foods are made from potatoes, but that doesn’t mean you should count them as part of your daily vegetable intake.

Let’s take a look at another example: Ice cream is made from milk. Does that mean we should ignore milk’s health benefits and classify it as dessert? No.